Like
any red-blooded American, I was both devastated and angered by the events of
Sept. 11. In the weeks since the attacks, I have struggled to find a fragile
inner peace -- one that is both spiritually comforting and morally satisfying.

Now the
mayor of Elkhart has informed me that my own methods of finding peace are
faulty. Instead, I am told that internal strength can only be gained
specifically through prayer that is accompanied by fasting. In fact, he has
gone as far as to announce that it is my "civic and moral duty" to
follow the tenets of his own religion.

Forgive
me, Mr. Miller, but you are absolutely out of line. My civilian obligations do
not include prescribed methods of worship, and my sense of morality transcends
whatever doctrine you might personally choose to obey. For you to imply that I
am morally obligated to honor the victims within a specific religious context
is both divisive and insulting.

The
freedoms that we are fighting to preserve include the right to live free of
religious coercion. That means that all citizens are free to seek a closeness
to God by whatever means they choose, be it prayer, fasting, meditation, nature
hikes or community service. Our society will honor the dead in ways that cross all
boundaries of religion and secularism. But our moral fitness will not be judged
according to the religious creeds of our political leaders. That, Mr. Miller,
would be un-American.